STIC - Automotive Services: B. Using the Internet
 Internet
as a Research Tool
Equipment
- Overhead projector
- Networked computers
Materials
- Handout 5 "About the Internet"
- Handout 6 "Entering the Net"
- Handout 7 "Going for a (Purposeful) Browse"
- Handout 8 "Surfing the Web"
- Handout 9 "Automotive Service Technician URLs"
Instructions
a) Brainstorming Exercise
Ask the participants:
- to define the following terms:
- network
- a web
- information highway
- which "low-tech" information sources (e.g. library/encyclopaedia)
they would compare the Internet to and why
b) What is the Internet?
Make sure the participants are aware of the following information:
The Internet began as the American response to the Soviet Union 's launching
of Sputnik in 1957. In the face of this challenge, the US Department of
Defence created the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). The plan
was to construct a network of geographically dispersed computers that
would continue to function even if one of the computers on the network
got destroyed.
In 1969 four computer networks were connected to each other and called
ARPANET. Connecting two or more networks creates an internetwork or internet,
so ARPANET was one of the first examples of an internet. Gradually, more
and more networks were connected to the ARPANET, and it became known as
the Internet (with an upper case I).
The Internet is a collection of local, regional, and national computer
networks, all linked together to exchange data. The networks can communicate
because they use the same networking language.
To use the Internet, you must have an account on a network that is connected
to the Internet.
The type of services offered by an Internet Service Provider includes:
- electronic mail (e-mail)
- access to the World Wide Web
c) Distribute Handout 5 "Glossary of Internet Terms."
As you read through the definitions with the participants, reinforce
the idea of moving from topic to topic when looking up information in
the encyclopaedia (i.e. clicking on hypertext links or surfing the web)
by having them look up the definitions for underlined terms as they come
to them, i.e.
- World Wide Web (WWW)
- URL
- web browser
- surfing
- query
- search tool
Use Overhead 5 to illustrate the terms.
d) Distribute Handout 6 "Entering the Net."
Read through the materials with the whole group.
e) Internet Practice
- Take the participants to the computer room. Have them work in pairs.
Try to pair people who are familiar with the Internet with novices.
- To avoid overloading the sites, divide the participants
into two groups. Distribute Handout 7 and 8. One group will start with
Handout 7 "Going for a (Purposeful) Browse" and the other with Handout
8 "Surfing the Web." For extra browsing encourage participants to open
URLs listed in Handout 9 "Automotive Service Technician URLs."
- Demonstrate the steps for getting into the Internet with each group.
- Group 1:
- Have the group gather around a computer while you demonstrate
how to:
- log on
- find the Web Browser Netscape
- call up the home page of the service engine AltaVista
- use the mouse
- scroll up and down screen
- use the search box to enter a query
- open and use the location box to enter a web site address
- click on hyperlinks
- Ask Group 1 to work through the exercise, Handout 7
"Going for a (Purposeful) Browse."
- Group 2:
- Demonstrate the above steps to the second group.
- Have the pairs in this group work through Handout 8
"Surfing the Web."
- Once each pair has finished the assigned exercise,
they will move on to the next.
- Note:
- You may want to have one participant be responsible
for an exercise; e.g. Person A works through the searching exercise
while Person B observes and Person B works through the surfing exercise
while Person A observes.
- As the participants work through the exercises, make sure they have
successfully:
- logged on
- entered the search engine and are on the home page
- identified the Internet functions (explored the toolbar buttons,
can comfortably scroll)
- keyed in search queries
- scrolled down matches; understood that they can go on the next
level(s) by clicking on the bar at the bottom of the screen
- recognized the most relevant/efficient hyperlinks
- Debrief.
 Downloads
All downloads are in Adobe Acrobat PDF.
Download a print version of the above lesson plan and related materials.
Using the Internet
Overview [350 KB, 21 pages]
- Lesson Plan
- Handouts 1 - 9
Download the complete Facilitator's Guide and Participant's Workbook.
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